fun. Faith

I just returned from leading a group to Mexico during spring break to build homes for the desperately needy. It was a great week. Part of the trip involved hours and hours and hours and hours and hours of driving. To fill that time, much music was played. We had a van full of folks with varying tastes in music (mine being supreme of course), so a virtual jukebox emanated from the van as we cruised through the CA highways. I’ve always had a much more lax policy on tunes than many youth pastors. I allow kids to pretty much listen to whatever music they are into. (There are obvious exceptions, as Slayer may not be youth group appropriate). I think it is easier to get a kid to be real and get to know them by making them relax in their own environments. So for the most part, we rock out, and besides how much Newsboys can one man handle? 
Each year, a song rises up from the blend of notes and harmonies of our collective Ipods and becomes our unofficial “theme” of the week. We find ourselves playing and singing it over and over. Past winners of this prestigious title have been Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire”, Justin Bieber’s “Baby” and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing”. Obviously, it has to be a special little ditty. This year, as the trip began, we had several possibilities start to move to the head of the competition. A Skrillex and Gotye tune made a strong run, but ultimately fell shorter than Adam Levine’s new hairdo to “We Are Young” by the band fun. Before the week’s end we were screaming it at the top of our lungs every time we drove anywhere.
If you haven’t heard it, you need to spotify it right away. It has a grand, epic theatrical feel to it. The general “emotion” of it comes off as moving and inspirational. You’ll definitely not be able to get it out of your head.
The tune begins with a vague, fumbling apology in a bar. The singer is very lazily trying to atone for some past mistake he made against someone, but, when he can’t seem to find the best words, he breaks into a soaring chorus instead, basically urging them to forget the past and just live in the moment. Pianos and drums and bass roar as they boldly sing “Tonight, we are young , so let's set the world on fire' …. Trust me, it rocks 
The more I listened to the song, the more fired up I felt. The chorus was all I could focus on. This idea that we are always as young as we want to be, we always have energy if we want it, we always can set this world on fire truly resonated with me.
What if we took on this sort of mindset in our faith? What if we truly believed that we could do whatever we set our minds to? How would our churches look and act differently? What if we adopted some sort of “We are Young” theology? Too many times I hear older Christians say things like “I’ve done that long enough, so it’s time to let someone else step in”. This drives me NUTS! From what I can see, nowhere does God tell us that our faith and actions are under a limited contract!
I urge us all to catch fire. Even when we are weary, remember the promises of God that we can soar on wings of eagles! Remember that we are empowered by a force greater than any! We are as young as we want to be. We can set this world on fire, and we can burn brighter…because we have the only true light.
So all who are weary in faith…I will carry you home tonight, but tomorrow is a new day. Joy comes in the morning and tomorrow….we will set the world on fire!

Mexico Chronicles

If there is still anyone out there who reads this thing, you are owed an apology. It has been a LONG time since I shared a single thought with the blogosphere. Almost 2 months to be exact. My last post was about the loss of a dear friend. And since those words seemed to flow from the tips of my fingers, I just have not been able to write anything else down. Perhaps it is because I emotionally spent my brain. I have just been too tired to think. Or perhaps, I felt somehow guilty about writing anything else, as if maybe I was betraying Branson’s memory.
But, silence cannot live forever of course. I have decided that it is now time for me to once again pick up the proverbial pen and start typing. This week I leave for Mexico. Our church is taking about 73 folks across the border to build homes for some lovely creations of God. On top of that, I am taking my 2 oldest kids as well. So…it looks to be a busy week and a fun one. I am sure that it will give me plenty to talk about as we prepare and as we travel……so stay tuned!
“The Mexico Chronicles” will now begin!

Mexico Mission 2010 Day 1-Friday March 19

We took off today for our grand adventure. It will be a new experience, with a new crew, a new van and a new departure day. We chose to leave a day earlier than years past in order to relax a little more than normal, and to play a little as well.
We left the house around 9:00 but due to errands, and some backtracking for a forgotten DVD player, we didn’t hit the interstate until shortly after 10:00. The van this year was Kenzie, Lyndee and Emmalee (aka CO Girls), and the usuals: Jude, me, and Lora. We were not traveling in a pack this year, so we were free to take our time.
It was a great ride. We laughed and played. We played many many rounds of “Ipod Wars”….a shuffle game. Jude was the landslide winner. I heard much more country than I’ll ever need ☺. Most of my tunes fell on deaf ears, and Kenzie surprised us all with her vast library f death metal.
For lunch we hit In n Out….a MUST DO when in the golden state. SO GOOD………..
I am really enjoying this group. Been a pleasure to be with the girls. They are amazing girls. Lyndee is the sweet soul I’ve always known. Kenzie is a quiet and loving person…looking forward to knowing her better. Emmalee is a so fun and easy to get along with…looking forward to getting to know her too. Laura has hit it off well with them, like I knew she would and Jude is just great kid.
We made it to the hotel just after 9:30 pm. We met up with friends, stretched and hit the sack for a big day. Tomorrow we will play as we prepare ourselves for a big day of traveling and beginning our efforts for the Lord!

I'm Back!!!!!.........and belated Mexico Pictures

Well, after over a month of silence, I am BACK! Due to several "issues" with both my office and home computers, I have been silent in blog world. Oh how I have missed you! :)...........

So, please start checking again, because I have MUCH to catch us up on!

Since by now you have mostly all heard how PHENOMENAL our mission trip to Mexico was,I will spare you the details again!!! We built two lovely houses and completely "rebooted" a Christian Camp in San Felipe. It was our best year ever. I feel we sowed some deep seeds of love and grace in a very impoverished place. Thanks to all of you for your support and prayers.

So I am just going to dump a bunch of pictures for you to peruse..........
Thanks for checking in!


Crossing over this year was barely different than ever despite teh escalating drug wars


are we there yet dad?


the majestic & mystical Mt Shasta


The only pretty part near LA...the "grapevine"


Alisha snoozing in the van


"We're ALMOST there..."


"Pouring the foundation"


"smoothing it out"


Jude learning to survey


Digging El bano


Up goes the wall


This was the house site...I thought it was an incredible album cover...how desolate


This was the "house" the folks had before we finished


"That could hold a lot of poo :)"


Up go the trusses!


Hammer time


Jed: Man of Steel


"She'll Hold"


Setting the doors and windows


Hard working paint boy!


Hard working teens boys


Always a ladies man


House # 2 almost complete!


Ladies man once more


AGAIN!


Saddest, most disease and fly ridden place of desperation I've ever seen...the dump in San Felipe


Jude LOVED the big kids


wow


Home #1 finished


#2 complete!


Passing out supplies and clothes in the true slums


Beach Day!


Six Flags on the trip home


ahhhh.. double double with cheese


Mexican chicas


reading & writing......


worry not......that's not a worship song

Slideshow Maturity

I could not have been prouder this weekend. Friday night was one of the greatest evenings I can remember in a long time. It won’t sound like much to you guys, but it was amazing. My son had all of his family over and gave us an amazing “Mexican Slide Show” from his recent trip with his daddy to a mission work trip to San Felipe Mexico.

He has seen me give one several times now on my trip to Uganda. He is also infatuated with cameras. So while we were there, he was constantly swiping my digital camera and snapping the weirdest, most random, and often incredibly cool and artistic shots. One night he said “Dad when we get back can I give everyone a slide show like you”? I thought it was cute and agreed and simply filed it away. But in his little heart and mind, a dream was born!

This last Friday it came to fruition. We worked hard to set it all up. We made all his favorite snack foods and everyone came over at 7. I was really not sure how he would do. He can get pretty shy at times. I was not going to be surprised if he started but got too shy and/or embarrassed quickly and walked away from it. I was expecting to have to help him and even possibly finish it for him.

Boy was I WRONG! He was amazing. He stood up with full confidence and just bloomed into a preacher in front of our eyes! “Let me start with a few questions about tonight” he said first (questions meaning “clarifying purpose statements of course :). “I want to show you pictures from my trip to Mexico to build houses and our trip to Six Flags. After that we have several snacks and you can all eat whatever you want and just hang out. Then if you want Dad can show you Africa pictures”…..and with that he was off. Looking at me with the eyes of a grown boy he said, “Go Dad” and the show was off.

Jude was amazing. In fact he was nothing short of brilliant! We couldn’t believe it. My jaw was dropped. He was so well versed in the story with each picture. He was so excited and animated. "This was just a fantastic place” he would say. Or “this was me carrying trusses. They build roofs”. His Mom and I had tears just streaming down our faces. It was as if we were literally watching him grow up in front of our eyes. I wasn’t even sure whose child I was watching.

I could not have been any prouder. He was amazing. The crowd of adoring friends was blown away! He finished and thanked everyone for coming. I still cannot believe it. It was one of those precious times you wished you could save in a time capsule. I will NEVER forget it. I wish I could have taped it, but I am not sure video could have captured the feeling of such an energetic and emotionally charged air.

I wonder what more our kids are capable of that we underestimate? I am so excited about the worlds and churches they will be building. I cannot wait to see what they do to this world.

GREAT JOB Jude………I am so glad to have taken you on that trip. I will never forget it my little man. Your Dad is a babbling crying ball of pride.